Rabbi Janine's Messages

Dear Community,

Purity is a loaded word. 

But that’s our theme for this week’s Torah portion, Tazria-Metzora. 

Our double portion begins with laws about purity and impurity related to childbirth and skin conditions. At first glance, these laws seem like an obsession with cleanliness, which can be a turn-off. But we can understand Tazria-Metzora as a focus on the importance of physical and spiritual health.  The laws mentioned in Tazria-Metzora remind us that purity isn’t just about avoiding contamination; it’s about acknowledging our vulnerability (everyone gets sick) and creating space for healing—inside and out. Tazria-Metzora challenges us to confront our spiritual imperfections, acknowledge them honestly, and seek tikkun — repair — both within ourselves and our community.

Meanwhile, as we count each day of the Omer leading up to Shavuot, we are engaging in a slow and deliberate process of self-improvement. In the Torah, the Israelites are on a journey from Egypt to Mt. Sinai for the giving of the Torah and then finally to settle in the Land of Israel. We join them in our own personal journey from Passover to Shavuot, meant to guide us through weeks of acknowledging our spiritual imperfections and cultivating the very best of our nature. Every evening, as we mark another day, we’re tuning into an ancient process that prepares us to be spiritually ready for the gift of Divine revelation on Shavuot. 

Tonight begins the 20th day of the Omer. This Shabbat, I invite you to try to find your own way into the ritual of Counting the Omer. What steps can you take today towards being a more intentional and spiritual person in the world? How will you mark the journey?

A few resources to help you along the way: 

Middot Omer Calendar from Reconstructing Judaism’s Ritualwell
This free resource helps you understand the Kabbalistic approach to counting the Omer, connecting each day and each week to a specific middah, Jewish ethic.  Rabbi Margaret Holub shares one invitation/instruction for each day of the Omer.

Tonight’s task: Instead of saying, “It’s so complicated,” try to get closer to understanding something difficult.

Counting the Omer: An App!
For Apple users 
For Android users

Rabbi Yael Levy Journey Through the Wilderness 
From Bookshop  (especially since last week was Independent Bookstore Day!) 

Happy and Meaningful Counting.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Janine Jankovitz